Naked bullying.

[garinda]

The scenes from the video which was published in the papers yesterday, showed scenes the public don't really see our armed service personnel participating in.

At a time when some of our army is under suspicion of bullying, as well as some rather strange deaths of young recruits at a barracks in Surrey, isn't time these so called character building initiation rituals were banned?

[Tinkerbelle]

I did actually take notice earlier when that was on the news ...

[Neil]

Your only jealous because you are too old to join up

[garinda]

You can watch it on the News of the World website.

It's not rude as the winkies are pixielated, but the violence is shocking.

[Doug]

There’s a difference between bullying and initiation rituals, small little insignificant people bully so long as their allowed to get away with it. Initiation rituals from my experience aren’t all that extensive but do persist in some of the more competitive units. What does happen a lot is service men letting off steam, either as a result of action or boredom. These situations do go wrong and the results of what was shown on the news are an example. No matter how you look at it, when you join up you’re trained to kill, often by the simplest and most effective means if the lads and lasses aren’t physically engrossed in training or battle this sort of thing will happen. That’s not to say its right, it isn’t, but it is a fact of life that being a member of the armed forces is an aggressive occupation.

[Bad-Wolf]

I think the initiation rituals are banned (at least officially), though on the whole I think it is just the bully's asserting their authority!

Even though the armed forces are naturally aggressive I do not think that it in any way excuses this kind of behaviour. Perhaps the offending individuals should be sacked! This would certainly be the case in any other line of work!

[SPUGGIE J]

The British army is one of the best in the world yet these images and previous "incidents" do nothing for its image. These "power mad" NCO's need to be given a dishounarble discharge to show the public and the world the armed forces will not tolerate this behavior. Its the 21st century not the 19th centuary.

[Acrylic-bob]

I agree that it does not show our brave lads in what one might consider their "best light". However, it is no different than the antics which members of Rugby clubs get up to. If anything, it might be considered a little on the tame side by comparison .

If the combatants alone were compelled to shed their clothing I can see where the bullying might be a serious case of humiliation. But why were all but two naked and why were the two who weren't naked dressed as a comedy surgeon and a schoolgirl? What led up to the video'd incident and what happened afterwards are questions worth asking? As is why was the event felt to be worth videoing? And what use was the video intended to be put to?

I am sure that Herr Doktor Freud would have plenty say about all this. Though come to think on it, I suppose he needn't bother, the reasons are plain enough for anyone with a grain or two of common sense.

[garinda]

The incident filmed on video was a little different to what goes on in most rugby clubs because the ring leaders weren't the rugby club captains, but these newly trained soldiers commanding officers, ie: they were forced into attacking each other naked. One of their commanding officers then decided one of them hadn't suffered enough, when he decided to kick him until he was unconcious.

In a professional army that can't be excused as high jinx under the guise of initiation, it is assault, and apparently is wide spread, and perhaps sheds light on the deaths at Deepcut barracks.

[SPUGGIE J]

Its maddening that it happens especially when these officers are supposed to set an example.